Top 15 Birds in Wisconsin

1. American Robin

• Description: A familiar songbird with a red-orange breast, gray back, and cheerful song.
• Habitat: Lawns, gardens, parks, and wood edges throughout Wisconsin.
• Ecosystem Services: Helps control insect populations and disperses seeds through fruit consumption.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; populations stable and widespread.

2. Bald Eagle

• Description: Large raptor with a white head and tail, brown body, and powerful yellow beak.
• Habitat: Lakes, rivers, and wetlands; nests in large trees near water.
• Ecosystem Services: Apex predator; helps maintain fish and waterfowl population balance.
• Conservation Status: Recovered; removed from the endangered list but still protected.

3. Sandhill Crane

• Description: Tall bird with gray plumage and a red forehead patch, noted for its trumpeting calls.
• Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, and prairies.
• Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal, insect control, and soil aeration through probing behavior.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; populations increasing.

4. Common Loon

• Description: Black-and-white patterned waterbird with striking red eyes and eerie calls.
• Habitat: Northern lakes and large ponds with clear water.
• Ecosystem Services: Indicator of water quality and fish population health.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; some local declines due to pollution and habitat loss.

5. Northern Cardinal

• Description: Vibrant red plumage in males; females are brownish with red highlights. Both sexes have a crest and black face mask.
• Habitat: Woodland edges, gardens, and urban areas.
• Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal and insect control.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; common and expanding range.

6. Red-tailed Hawk

• Description: Large hawk with broad wings, pale underside, and a signature reddish tail.
• Habitat: Open fields, wood edges, and roadsides.
• Ecosystem Services: Controls rodent and small mammal populations.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; widespread and adaptable.

7. Downy Woodpecker

• Description: Small woodpecker with black and white plumage and a small bill; males have a red patch on the back of the head.
• Habitat: Forests, orchards, and suburban areas with trees.
• Ecosystem Services: Controls tree pests and promotes forest health.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; common and stable.

8. Great Horned Owl

• Description: Large nocturnal owl with ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a deep hoot.
• Habitat: Forests, open country, and urban parks.
• Ecosystem Services: Controls populations of rodents and small mammals.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; widely distributed and adaptable.

9. Yellow Warbler

• Description: Bright yellow plumage with reddish streaks on the breast in males; sweet, whistling song.
• Habitat: Wetlands, shrublands, and forest edges.
• Ecosystem Services: Insect control during breeding season.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; populations stable overall.

10. Pileated Woodpecker

• Description: Very large woodpecker with black body, white stripes on the face and neck, and a red crest.
• Habitat: Mature forests and wooded swamps.
• Ecosystem Services: Creates cavities used by other wildlife; controls wood-boring insects.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; populations stable or increasing in many areas.

11. Eastern Bluebird

• Description: Small thrush with bright blue back and rusty red breast.
• Habitat: Open fields with scattered trees and fence lines.
• Ecosystem Services: Insect control and seed dispersal.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; recovered with nest box programs.

12. Mallard

• Description: Familiar duck with glossy green head (male), brown-speckled body (female), and blue wing patch.
• Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
• Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal, controls aquatic insect larvae.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; abundant and widespread.

13. Cedar Waxwing

• Description: Sleek brown bird with a crest, black mask, yellow-tipped tail, and red wing accents.
• Habitat: Open woodlands, orchards, and suburban areas with fruiting trees.
• Ecosystem Services: Important seed disperser of native fruits.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; stable populations.

14. Wild Turkey

• Description: Large, ground-dwelling bird with iridescent bronze plumage and fan-shaped tail.
• Habitat: Woodlands and fields.
• Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal, insect control, and soil disturbance during foraging.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; successful reintroduction and management programs.

15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

• Description: Tiny bird with iridescent green back and ruby-red throat patch in males.
• Habitat: Gardens, wood edges, and meadows with flowering plants.
• Ecosystem Services: Pollination of native flowers.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern; common during breeding season.